Welcoming comments on Arg Essay

[Nit Kul]

QUESTION:

The following is a memorandum from the business manager of a television station.

"Over the past year, our late-night news program has devoted increased time to national news and less time to weather and local news. During this time period, most of the complaints received from viewers were concerned with our station's coverage of weather and local news. In addition, local businesses that used to advertise during our late-night news program have just canceled their advertising contracts with us. Therefore, in order to attract more viewers to the program and to avoid losing any further advertising revenues, we should restore the time devoted to weather and local news to its former level."

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

 

(MY) ANSWER:

While it may seem like the right thing to do after a cursory evaluation, the idea of retraction from national news and paying more attention to local and weather news has its pros and cons. The memorandum does not offer a solution by being in tone dismissive of the existing operations of the station.

The two disadvantages in the current scenario which the manager notes are complaints from viewers and cancellation of contracts with local business owners. However, firstly he fails to produce any hardcore data as evidence, indicating lack of effort to examine the trend. A better way to deal with it would have been to conduct surveys and note the data obtained. Secondly, losses that the manager seems to be bothered by do not need to be of magnitude or consequence. National news by its very nature could glue the greater section of viewers on to screen (while too many local advertisements may have at an earlier stage caused resentment in them). The businesses that have backed out might have other reasons. Equally, things might be actually going against the station because of its own complacency, such as hiring a narrow set of journalists and not hiring designers (for weather reports) and marketers (for advertising). A regular performance and quality check might be missing. Admitting to such loopholes is what can make the whole argument trustworthy in the end.

Although the comment made seems to be failing to make an impact in a business meeting, if properly supported with facts by the manager, it can drive the executives to take a call on the issue, encouraging the shift away from national news. All in all, there needs to be further elaboration in the memorandum.

 

WHAT SCORE DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD DESERVE?